Roman Kwasniewski's father, Joseph, owned the property at 654 Becher Street. The Kwasniewski family lived there and ran a church goods store. The advertising is for Park Studio at 568 Lincoln Avenue (established in 1917).

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee acquired the collection through the Assistance of Polanki, the Polish Women's Club of Milwaukee; and Roman Kwasniewski's daughter, Adele, and her husband, John Kaczmarowski. Representative Walter Kunicki and Senator John Plewa secured state funding for the processing of the collection.